At some time you may experience some fussiness from your toddler. This always seems to cause parents concern. Realistically you cannot expect your toddler to eat as he did during his first year as he is not growing as rapidly and so does not need as much food. He is simply less hungry so don't force him to eat but make sure that every mouthful counts. Nutrient-poor foods can fill him up quickly, leaving little room for more nutritious foods needed for growth and development. Aim for quality, not quantity.

If you suspect your child has serious feeding problems, consult your healthcare professional.

You may notice some of all of the following behaviours. These are normal.

Occasional Poor Appetite

Don't worry. Babies have their own tastes and preferences. However, if it is a frequent or recurring problem, ask your healthcare professional about it.

Rejects Vegetables

Introduce vegetables first, then fruit. That way, your baby may not refuse vegetables in favour of sweeter fruit. If you baby is not a veggie lover just yet, try Heinz^® Veggie Fruit Blends. We've combined vegetables and fruits together for delicious tastes that can help you fulfill your baby's dietary needs - available in Stage 2 Strained (From 6 months) and Stage 3 Junior (From 8 months) varieties.

Dislikes New Foods

It takes time for a baby to get used to new tastes. Don't give up yet! Try the same new flavour a few times before cutting it out..

Doesn't Want To Use A Spoon At First

This is normal as any foreign object is put in a baby's mouth. He will get used to it very quickly. Don't feed cereal or baby food from a bottle.

If you suspect you are dealing with a finicky toddler, you may want to try the following:

• Offer milk only from a cup at the end of meals and limit milk to no more than 600 ml a day as it is very filling
• Offer water in a cup and only between meals.
• Offer very small servings of healthy, nutritious food on a plate or better still allow your child to choose foods from a larger platter.
• Encourage your toddler to feed himself with child-sized utensils or using his fingers.
• Eat together as a family at a regular meal time. This is where and how your child learns to eat - by copying you.
• Children enjoy company at mealtime. Remove any distractions so your child does not have to compete for your attention.
• If your child refuses to eat, remove the food quietly and tell him that there is no more until the next meal or snack time. Many parents worry about children going to bed hungry and give in to demands. Be kind, relaxed and determined and above all else, remember, finicky eaters do not starve.
• Keep snacks small so your child is hungry for meals.

A good rule of thumb is that YOU decide when and what, HE decides how much!

Toddlers learn quickly that food provides a great opportunity to test their assertiveness...and your patience! Try and remember who's in charge and avoid these tried and true toddler tricks:

1. Would you like...?

Offering endless choices does not help if your toddler isn't hungry and it can be overwhelming. Limit choices to a few healthy options. This is less overwhelming and your toddler can feel more involved.

2. He will only eat...

Usually this just means that he's learned to hold out long enough for his favourite foods to be offered. Be firm, and offer only healthy choices. Let him leave the table when he's eaten as much as he's going to and offer a healthy snack later. A hungry child WILL eat.

3. No ice cream until you eat your dinner...

Try to avoid using some foods as a reward. This form of bribery only makes dessert more desirable and dinner less so. No food is "good" or "bad", but some foods are "sometimes" foods or "treats" and others are "everyday" foods. If dessert is on the menu, offer it regardless of whether the main meal was completed or not...but do it without a fuss.